Letters: Sep. 5, 1969

Sir: Cheers for your exposure of the evil operations of the Cosa Nostra
[Aug. 22], particularly drug traffic. As a former narcotics court news
reporter in Chicago, I can tell you that educated estimates attribute
50% to 80% of all crime to narcotics. It is a cruel form of slavery,
and those addicted to heroin can seldom afford it without resorting to
crime.

Since crime on the streets is a smoldering political issue, the Cosa
Nostra and its narcotics traffic should be included as a root cause.